All you need is the right software, usually provided in the operating system or by the device manufacturer.

Securing Your Smartphone: It is Simple, so Do it!

With the threat of smartphone theft so great, and with so many opportunities for thieves to relieve you of your portable store of emails, photos, search data, account logins, and other personal information, it is imperative that you apply a lock to your handset.

This might be a short PIN, a shape that you swipe through on the display to unlock, or even a photo of your face, if you’re using facial recognition to unlock the device. But how do you set this up?

On Android, open Settings > Security > Screen security. Here, tap Screen lock where you can select between Swipe, Pattern, PIN, and Password access methods. Set up whichever you’re most comfortable with to unlock your phone.

If you’re using Windows Phone, go to Settings > Lock screen > Password and switch this to On. You’ll be prompted to set a new password, which must be numerical, but can be more than four digits.

IPhone and iPad users should open Settings > Passcode and select Turn passcode on. You can then use the new options to set a long or short passcode (use the Simple Passcode switch to toggle this). With the passcode set up, this will be required whenever you restart or wake your iPhone.

Modern BlackBerry devices also have a separate user space, known as the “work space.” This is essentially a secondary profile that has its own data and this can be set by swiping down from the top of the screen and selecting Balance > Change Password. Note that forgetting your work space password will result in the work space and the data within being deleted after so many failed attempts, and this password cannot be reset or recovered. You may find it safer to use the set the work space password as your device password with Use as my device password switched to On.

(If your BlackBerry is attached to a corporate email account, security should have already been put in place, so speak to your organization’s IT department.)

Lock Your SIM Card for Even More Smartphone Security

PINs and swipes are just one way of protecting your phone. You can introduce an additional layer of security by locking your SIM cardWhy Do Cellphones Need a SIM Card?Why Do Cellphones Need a SIM Card?Haven't we come far enough with technology that such a thing as SIM cards shouldn't matter anymore? What is a SIM card and why is it so important?Read More, which can prevent unauthorized access to phone calls. This will not lock the rest of the phone, so can be useful if you’re letting a small person use your smartphone for playing games.

Android users should go to Settings > Security > SIM card lock and tap Set up SIM card lock. In the next screen, switch Lock SIM card to On. This will enable the SIM card lock, but you will need to input the existing SIM card code in order to enable or change the code.

On Windows Phone, a SIM lock can be set in Settings > Applications > Phone, where you should enable SIM security. When you’re prompted to enter the PIN, do so according to the instructions from your network provider. You will now have two PIN codes on your phone, one to unlock the screen and a second to unlock the PIN – don’t confuse them!

Encrypting your phone, however, will prevent anyone without your PIN from accessing any of the data stored on it. There really is no reason not to do this.

Encrypting Data on Android

Data encryption on Android is separated from the main passcode setup screen, but once activated is linked to the passcode. Note that once encryption is applied should you forget your PIN, your data will remain inaccessible. Only your PIN can decrypt your data.

To encrypt your Android device, you should have already set up a PIN as above. You will also need to connect your phone to the charger as the encryption process is battery intensive. Proceed to Settings > Security > Encryption > Encrypt Phone. Read the warning/explanation, and ensure that you are happy with the implications of encryption. Once satisfied, tap ENCRYPT PHONE and then go and do something else. During the encryption process, you phone will be dedicated to that task, so you won’t be able to make calls, run apps, check email, etc.

Once encryption is complete, your phone should run as normal. This does, however, depend on whether your handset has a dedicated processor for dealing with encryption/decryption, or whether it relies on the main processor. If the latter, then things are going to be a bit slow with encryption activated. Fortunately, in most cases, if encryption is making your phone run like a square wheel, you can return to Settings > Security > Encryption > Encrypt Phone and disable encryption. We wouldn’t recommend this in most cases, however.

Encrypting Data on iOS

Things are a little simpler with iOS. As soon as you set a passcode/PIN for your device (see above), the data on an iPhone or iPad is encrypted.

Encrypt Windows Phone 8.x

Unless your Windows Phone is managed by your organization, it cannot be encrypted. This can only be achieved via a Microsoft Exchange server. Microsoft’s advice for users wishing to encrypt their devices is to employ the standard PIN, which needs to be entered in order for the device to be read via USB connection to a PC. They also instruct users to activate Find my PhoneHow To Find Your Lost or Stolen Windows PhoneHow To Find Your Lost or Stolen Windows PhoneDid you enable Find My Phone, yet? One day, this native Windows Phone feature may re-unite you with your device. Better check whether it's turned on before it's too late!Read More, despite this system’s long running unreliability.

It's really unfair that you did not include eWallet software from iliumsoft.com in you review. I have used this app on multiple devices (currently iOS, WIN7, WIN8.1, & Android) for at least ten years. It includes excellent support, uses 256 AES encryption, stores personal data other than p/words and easily syncs across all your devices. Hands down the best on the market.

"Encryption is easy.." so what?
It slows down device, you can't read or write files on your phone/tablet via computer and usb, rooting will brick your device (because it changes some files to not encrypted ones but device is encrypted and thinks that those files are encrypted) and the list goes on and on...